The M2-F2 Lifting Body is carried aloft by the Air Force's B-52 (tail number 003) prior to a research launch.
ECN-1436
The M2-F2 Lifting Body is carried aloft by the Air Force’s B-52 (tail number 003) prior to a research launch. The success of the Flight Research Center’s “homebuilt” M2-F1 program led to NASA’s development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies – the M2-F2 and the HL-10, both built by the Northrop Corporation. The “M” refers to “manned” and “F” refers to “flight” version. “HL” comes from “horizontal landing.” The first flight of the M2-F2 – which looked much like the “F1” – was on July 12, 1966. NASA Flight Research Center’s Milt Thompson was the pilot.September 2, 1966NASA Photo› Read M2-F2 Project Description